Man killed in elephant attack in Sunsari

KATHMANDU: AUGUST 12 – A man was killed in an elephant attack in Koshi Rural Municipality-4 of Sunsari district on Thursday.

Police identified the deceased as local resident Ramekhang Khatwe.

Khatwe had gone to attend the call of nature in a field in the early morning when suddenly he was attacked by an elephant inhabiting Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Narendra Kumar Karki. He said the body of Khatwe, who died on the spot, has been sent to the Sunsari District Hospital for identification and postmortem.

It has been reported that herds of elephants inhabiting the KTWR area have been terrorising the locals. Koshi RM Ward Chair Ayub Ansari said the elephants have destroyed crops and also damaged huts in the area.

Meanwhile, Wild Animal Victim Struggle Committee Chair Pancha Narayan Mandal said, “Locals have been organising various programmes from time to time demanding compensation to the damages and loss they have incurred due to intrusion and attack from wild animals. However, the authorities concerned have not paid attention to the demands.”